Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- Eric McErlain and the tradition of the gnomes.

-  How the War in Ukraine ends. Interesting read but Ukraine is not getting Crimea back. We have to be realistic about that.

- Is God really visiting a two-stoplight town in Kentucky? I'm honestly jealous of people who believe they've been touched by the Holy Spirit.

- The Battle of Verdun

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

In the old days when SNL was funny it would almost be guaranteed that there would be a spoof of the Springsteen / Jeep commercial. I'd be surprised if they went there today...  Heh heh - NFL 2021 Bad Lip Reading... Not sure about you but I'm not paying any attention to the "Second Impeachment Trial." Not worthy of my time nor attention. The exception is any Republican Congressman or Senator who goes along with this sham. That I will pay attention to and remember... I've avoided reading this book for some time. Probably for the same reason I've never seen Schindler's List. I don't want to put myself through that emotional trauma. To understand where I'm coming from - I choked up in tears just walking through the Holocaust Memorial in Boston. But time to get over that. Ordering the book today... In the old days (meaning just 2 or 3 years ago) after the Super Bowl I would be counting the days until Spring Training. Not this year. Kind of could care less.... 

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

I think Carolina rolls today but I'm not betting on the game. The Broncos in the NFL (like Syracuse in NCAAF) always seem to find a way to screw me when I bet on or against them... This is actually an excellent idea... I saw this picture and I was curious who the woman was who was Wonder Woman's stunt double. Turns out Jeannie Epper has had quite an illustrious film and TV career (though only one episode of Wonder Woman)... "Cthulhu doesn't play dice with the universe" - Albert Einstein... If you've seen The Force Awakens this is awesome...  I always assumed Bob Feller had already been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Feller's patriotism made Ted Williams feel like a pussy for crying out loud. Sign the petition!!... Heh heh - "I got some new underwear today. Well, new to me" - Emo Phillips... Wasn't this basically the plot to Carl Hiassen's Skinny Dip? Really surprised Skinny Dip hasn't been made into a movie... Not only was Richard Nixon the only sitting President to attend the Kentucky Derby - he was also the only President to meet both Elvis and RoboCop... 11 days till pitchers and catchers report to spring training!...

Old School Spring Training

One of my favorite articles about spring training was written nine years ago by Mike Shropshire of Slate.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

One thought on the Tiger Woods accident - it should be noted that Tiger had just spent the past two weeks in Asia. So his internal clock has to be screwed up. That's why I'm not placing too much emphasis on the fact that this accident happened at 2:30 am. As far as his body was concerned it could have been 3:30 in the afternoon (Hong Kong is 11 hours different from EST)... Lego Matrix (I love Lego stuff)... Good news for online poker players.

The U.S. Department of Treasury and Federal Reserve Board anounced (sic) today that the compliance date for the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act has been extended by six months to June 1, 2010.

That basically means that there is a good chance that an agreement will be reached to both regulate and legalize online poker in the US... TMZ is offering a scenario of what happened with Tiger Woods. Very plausible. I have to admit that I'm kinda bothered by the fact that she never took his last name when they got married. That bugs me - sorry but it does... Tiger Woods related quote of the day, "Bigamy is having one wife too many. Monogamy is the same." - Oscar Wilde... Patton Oswald and the Christmas shoes. Very funny stuff (NSFW language)... 88 days till pitchers and catchers report...

Red Sox Spring Training

OK - I'll say it! Even the most die-hard Red Sox fan is having trouble getting excited about spring training this year. Sure we counted down to the day pitchers and catchers reported but once things started it has been one big yawn.

With almost the entire team returning this season and really no positions up for grab or new faces and personalities to learn - its been pretty boring. Not that that's a bad thing. What team wouldn't love to have this sort of stability?

Sure there's been Curt Schilling's injured shoulder and Josh Beckett's back spasms. In the scheme of things, however, those issues are just tempests in a teacup no matter how big a deal the Boston media or ESPN tries to make of them. I mean I heard faux GM Phillips talking about the Red Sox season being in jeapordy. The first pitch of the season hasn't been thrown and chicken little Phillips has the sky falling in on the Red Sox heads. Good thing Red Sox fans aren't buying it.

Last spring training we had the arrival of Dice K and JD Drew. We had questions about second base and whether Coco Crisp was better after playing the end of 2006 with an injured hand. This spring we just wonder if there are any future catchers worth watching in the minor league system and who will get that last spot in the bullpen. Supposedly there is a contest going on for centerfield but come on - everyone knows that job now belongs to Jacoby Ellsbury. How are Red Sox fans supposed to get excited about a contest for the last bullpen spot?

I can't wait for Opening Day but pardon me if I can't get excited for spring training this year.